Frugal Friday Tip #1

In these challenging economic times, I have become more fugal in our home. From using a budget to planning a 3-meal menu, here at Rainy Day Farm, we are cutting back and saving more. It has turned out to be kind of fun to see how far I can get things to stretch. It has become a challenge, and I decided I would start passing on some of the money saving ideas that we are doing around here. Every Friday I am going to try and pass along some tid bit for you to try at home.

I love the old depression saying that all of our grandparents know, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!" It is becoming our motto around here.

So my first tip is "How to Make Milk last longer!"

Around here we are big milk drinkers. We can go through 4 gallons a week, so I have been mixing 1/2 milk, 1/2 powdered milk. I bought 4 gallons of milk last Monday and today we are opening the last gallon of mixed milk, and it should get us through the weekend. Here's how you do it.

1. Mix up 1 gallon of powdered milk. The milk I use is from our Church Bishop's Storehouse, as I talked about in my Wheat Grinding Post, but you can buy it at Emergency Essentials, Morning Moo, or your own grocery store. I mix the powder with VERY hot water and mix well with a whisk. Make sure it sits in the fridge for 24 hours and gets nice and cold before adding to regular milk.

2. Mix 1/2 milk and 1/2 powdered milk in the milk jug. Give it a good shake. Use as usual.

I have been doing this off and on over the past few months and my kids never know the difference. The key is making sure the powdered milk chills long enough to loose that vitamin taste.

Want to join the frugal fun? Email me with your ideas and tips at rainydayfarm@gmail.com. I would love to pass along your ideas and hints. I will be posting a button on my side bar later today. Let's help one another "Use it up, Wear it out, Make it do, or do without!"